I hear myself singing "that SONG," with my family around the piano ...

My Grandparent's home

I envision the old sheet music before me

I remember the cover

(Of the sheet music.)

I see my Aunt at the piano

And I would imagine it's still in someone's house

(The sheet music, not the piano)

These fifty years later

And fifty years later ...

We're more attractive than we were before ...

(Oh, this one's me, by the way.)

We certainly have more to "talk" about ...

mmmhmmmm ... (Not ... Doris Day.)

We can still "strike a pose" ...

(This would be "me" again.)

And some things, well, they just ... take an added measure of patience ...

Sentimental Journey

This nostalgic tune evokes memories of the 40s, in a way few others can do. It was written by Bud Green, Les Brown and Ben Homer in 1944. The vocal was sensitively done by Doris Day, despite unfounded fears of the extreme vocal ranges required.Some in the band first thought that the song was not going to connect with the kids, but at it's debut in the Hotel Pennsylvania's Cafe Rouge the kids went crazy! It was finally recorded at the Les Brown Band's first session after the infamous recording ban. Even now, nearly 60 years later, the song still pleases... and still calls to mind the names of Les Brown and Doris Day.

Here are the famous lyrics as sung by Doris on the 1944 recording:

Gonna take a Sentimental Journey,Gonna set my heart at ease.Gonna make a Sentimental Journey,to renew old memories.

Got my bags, got my reservations,Spent each dime I could afford.Like a child in wild anticipation,I Long to hear that, "All aboard!"

Seven...that's the time we leave at seven.I'll be waitin' up at heaven,Countin' every mile of railroadtrack, that takes me back.

Never thought my heart could be so yearny.Why did I decide to roam?Gotta take that Sentimental Journey,Sentimental Journey home.Sentimental Journey.

Dedicated to my Grandmother Gwen CarothersTo my Grandmothers not given opportunity to know well - Grandmother Effie Mae Farmer/Lewis and her MotherAnd to my treasured Great Grandmother Roxy AckermanAnd foremost, to my own Mother, Loretta Agaline Lewis/Carothers - who there are no words to express her presence, place and effect in my life.

The older I get, the more I'm aware of "my days" on this earth ... that one day ... I will no longer be present ... All that I am, have known, have been and experienced ... will be "lost".

Then arises in me a vehement "desire" to preserve ... some of what stands as "treasure" ... my loved ones ... from whom I've emerged ... what things were "close" to their hearts ... shared with us ... many of them ... passing before they could leave their heart's longings behind ... to live with and in us... to mesh ... as a part of ... ultimately ... who we've become.

MEMORIES!

Still living ... still being built upon ... Yes ... I remember you ... each time I look at ... each time I ... oh, Yes ... I remember you ... and "your day".

I will attempt to honor your memory ... in what things I do ... say ... participate in ... in just about everything I put my hand to!

Christmas ... my very favorite time of the year ... ! Not only because (for me) it is centered around the celebration of the Lord Jesus Christ, but also, it is an enormous "keeper" of beautiful family(childhood) memories for me!

Especially at Christmas

I incorporate the "past"

Antique: Belonging to or dating from former or bygone times; ancient (often with reference to Greece or Rome); characteristic of former times; old-time; old-fashioned; antiquated. The antique (usually the Greek or Roman) style, esp. in art; also, an antique relic, esp. an object of art; also, a style, esp. a style of type

Antiquate:to make antique or out of date.

Antiquated:Old-fashioned; out of date; superannuated.

Antiquation: The act of rendering antiquated; antiquated state.

Antiquity: The quality of being ancient; ancient character; great age; also, ancient times; also, the ancients; also, something belonging to or remaining from ancient times.E

Buttons andBows

Time for creativejuices to flow

It doesn'talwaystake so"MUCH"

To make things to be ...just(so) "SUCH"

From oneseason, now

We glideinto another

I can't believe it's "fall" already. again.I can smell it in the air though. I do believe it to be my favorite season of the year. Although, I don't really know that I favor one over the other however. I think I rather enjoy them all. Certain aspects of each one appeals to me.

These are gift bags that I designed a few years back. I also composed a seasonal "jack-o-lantern" song for children. It was recorded for a play that I wrote for the children of our church (1998?). To my surprise, adults liked the song more than or at least equally as much as, the children. There were adults who cried upon hearing it - not in a bad way but in a healing way - I guess it touched something in them. (That's a wonderful thing.) Someday, I would like to market it, as I don't believe there to be many songs addressing this holiday for Christian children.)